Trash pickup delayed as Republic workers strike again

CARLISLE TWP. — Republic Waste workers refused to cross a picket line Monday, delaying trash pickups in Medina, Lorain and western Cuyahoga counties for the second time this month.

Dave Kidder, Republic’s area marketing manager, said it was unclear Monday whether workers would return to their routes today.

Strikers sit outside Republic Waste in Carlisle Township. There were far less strikers on the line Monday than the first time they picketed in support of other workers fighting with the company. (GAZETTE PHOTO BY BRUCE BISHOP)

“We’re one day behind no matter what,” Kidder said.

He said if striking workers don’t work today, Republic will take steps to bring in workers from other areas to collect trash, although exactly how that would impact trash collection hadn’t been determined.

During the last strike, on April 1, Republic was able to make high-priority trash pickups and begin some regularly-scheduled service during the one-day strike. But trash service was pushed back by a day for most customers.

“If our guys go back to work (today), we work Tuesday to Saturday, like they did two weeks ago,” Kidder said.

Brunswick officials said Monday afternoon that they hadn’t yet received word about waste pick-up for the remainder of the week. The officials said they expected an update this morning.

Martin Jay, business representative and trustee for Teamster Local 20, which represents Republic workers based in Cuyahoga County, said he couldn’t say whether the strike would carry over into today.

That decision will be made based on what Teamsters Local 377 members from the Carbon Limestone Landfill in Lowellville, near Youngstown, decide to do. Local 377 members have been striking since last month in a dispute with the company over what the union contends are unfair labor practices.

“Local 377 extended their picket line throughout the state of Ohio and we’re supporting our brothers and sisters in Local 377,” Jay said Monday.

Teamsters Local 244, which represents workers operating in eastern Lake, Cuyahoga and Geauga counties also went out on a sympathy strike Monday, Eric Van Houten, general manager of Republic’s Lorain County operations, and Alan Marino, who holds the same job in Cleveland, said in a joint statement.

“We appreciate the patience of our customers during this time as members of Teamsters Locals 20 and 244 have gone on strike today,” the statement said. “We want to assure all of our customers that while their normal service will be delayed, we are working to ensure that their waste and recycling will be picked up as soon as possible.”
As with the last strike, the picket line didn’t extend to Republic’s landfill in New Russia Township.

But Kidder also said that there were still striking workers outside Republic’s Carlisle Township facility Monday evening, which meant late shift mechanics didn’t report for work. During the April 1 strike, the picket line had ended by the time the mechanics reported for duty.